Rival interests
----Internal distribution only----
Michael,
You are no doubt aware of the emergence of Morphora on the public scene. These trouble makers could cause serious issues on our current project. I suggest we put our aquisition plans on hold for the time being, including the recapture of a number of escaped subjects initially we underestimated. I'll arrange a meeting with the others to discuss what resources we can apply to getting this ignorant company off the scene entirely.
James
VP Tactical Aquisitions
Mask II
What happend next? Well by the mere fact I'm writing this you've worked out you haven't got rid of me that easily. Now let me .... I think it went a bit like this....
My eyes were stinging, I was losing consciousness, I could hear them moving up the stairs in a typically military fashion. I gropped around the floor desperate for a rag, a window ledge, anything! There it was, my mask. I hadn't worn it since it was built but I kept it with me in case I needed it. Well no better time than now. I pushed the cold metal to my face I felt my mind clear as the organic metal shifted around my head. I could see them, I could see outside the building, I could see me pin pointed on a satellite image from above. I could see others everywhere... I now knew what I had to do but first, I had to deal with these chumps.
Apothecary
I checked the comic book again... there it was in black marker over the top of the ads for whoopie cushions, x-rays glasses and Charles Atlas promising manhood in 7 days. This must be the place... it looked like a cross between a hippy crystal shop and a chemist. I shrugged what have I got to lose, I can always run.
The bell on the door made a comforting and unsuprising tinkle the one you'd come to expect from a shop of this nature. The place had a musty smell with a back drop of spices and a touch of sulphur.
"Hello?" I said
I jumped back as a tall broad bloke in his late 20's rose from behind the counter.
"Yes?" he replied
"oh I..."
"What you were expecting some crazy witch? They don't post messages in comics for geeks like you to find do they?"
I looked down at the tattered Defenders comic I'd picked up for 20p at a comics fair in Kings cross 3 days ago.
"So you willing to give it a try then?"
I wanted to run but I wanted to see if his claims were true.... He stepped round the counter and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Come with me my friend, your humdrum life is about to take a turn for the better."
Hunted
I'd been a week or so since it really became apparent where this was going. At first there were some unusual occurences then the police caught Lily the Kensington screamer. It was days after she was charged for disturbing the peace that a private enterprise (Morphora) had published an article in the Sun stating how extensive this threat was. They also said in no uncertain terms, that they were equipped to deal with this "issue".
The Mayor of London had told the press that he will continue to read the research available on this matter and was unhappy with a private enterprise being allowed to deal with this situation until all the facts were in.
I wasn't taking any chances. People began to give me looks, I was turning from local hero into a object of blame for all that was wrong with the world. I heard word that Morphora were making private offers for information on any enhanced they knew of. Within 2 hours of hearing this I was in hiding.....
I kept in touch with progress from a bespoke internet connection I'd come up with. The chameleon feature of the Vault was still in development but was sufficient for night time scavenger operations.
I wished I'd kept my gifts quiet perhaps I wouldn't be sitting in a squat eating beans from a tin. I began to worry, the Vault had gone into hibernation in the past. I feared that it wouldn't be there at the optimum time. Let's face it I was useless without it.
That optimum time was soon coming, the downstairs door crashed and splintered as a green scan light flickered through the broken slats in the upstairs landing. I could hear the the crunch of heavy booted feet step over the broken door. A clank, rattle and then a hiss. Smoke filled the room and tears began to fill my eyes.
All I could think of was Geoff and kicking the shit out of the grass.
